Container



. v 1 Oct. 17, 1939. M. J.- PARNIN CONTAINER Filed Sept. 6, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizz/671E 87" Maurice JPczr/zin FBQy M. J. PARNIN Oct. 17, 1939.

CONTAINER Filed Sept. 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz/ 671K07 ,Zfczurz'ce J P6072171.

25 withinthe enclMng container.

Patented on. 11, 1939 PATENT oFFlce CONTAINER Maurice J. Parnin, Welles ley, Mass, assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of Delaware I Application September s, 1938, Serial No. 228,537

7 Claims. (or. zza m The present invention relates to shipping containers and, more particularly, to containers for the storage and shipment of precision instruments vand similar articles such, forexample, as

electric clocks, which require a high degree of care in transportation.

One object of the invention is to provide a simpleand sturdy form of container for articles of the kind described which will enable such in-- Q struments to be safely packed for shipment .by

unskilled packers and with the consumption of. a

minimum amount of time and energy.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inner packing element for a shipping container'which is arranged to fit snugly into an outer enclosing container and is provided for that purpose witha simple arrangement of flaps functioning as a combined cushioning element. closure element and spacing element, the parts being so iil-constructedand related to each other'as to ac- "complish these results with a minimum amount of material as well as a minimum of hand manipulation of the inner packing element to condition it for use as a supporting and retaining means i A further object of the invention is to provide an innerpacking element for articles of the kind described which isarranged to loosely receive an article, and so constructed that the article will be more snugly engaged when the inner element holder to reuse the package where such use is desired, as in the case of clocks being returnedto the manufacturer for adjustment -or repair. To these and other ends the present invention .45, resides in certain improvements in combination of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims at the end of.

1 the specification. In the drawings: so Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing an outer container and an. inner packing element .made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inner packing element in instmment-holding position, but with- I out including the outer enclosing container;

Fig. 3' is'asectional view'taken on line 3-4 4 of Fig; 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

P- Fig. i is a plan view of the blank of the inner element-laid out flat; ea m. 5 is a perspective. view of a somewhat modified form of. the

ing the outer enclosing container; and

inner packing element in instrument-holding position, but without. includ- Fig. 6 is a plan view-of the blank for the inner packing element as illustrated in Fig. 5.

' Similar references to characters throughout'the several views indicate the same parts. a The present invention, as-disclosed, isapplied to the idea of packing electric clocks for shipment in'such a way that'the clock will be held substantially suspended in an inner packing elementins'ide of an outer container so thatthe're will be no likelihood of the clock coming into contact with the inner races of the wallsof such outer container with consequent danger ofbreakextend beyond the contour of the inner elementin two directions. which may be termed longitudinal and transverse directions. pads,

. at the same time, project upwardly beyond the ends oi'the inner element'to cushion it against the adjacent ends of the'enclosing container and also to space it from such ends.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, an outer container, designated generally'at l is provided which is of such dimension as to snugly entclose an inner packing element, indicated-generally at 6. The outer container I may, as herein illustrated, comprise an ordinary form of paperboard shipping container or carton, such as the so-called tubular slotted carton, having tourside walls vwith closure flaps extending from top and bottom thereof. enabling the carton to be closed as by means of glue or tape. I Any suitable enclosing container may be employed with the inner packing element.

The inner'packing element 8 preferably com-' prises a single sheet of paperboard, such as, for

example, doublefaced corrugated board, suitablycut and scored to provide a front and rear panel 1 and 8, and side panels 9 and 10. Score lines It and I2, impressed in the blank, separate the side vpanel 9 from panels 1 and 8 respectively, aLd

score line I! separates the rear panel 8 from the side panel ll.' As best indicated in Fig. 2, the

inner element is preferably formed for convenience into the shape of a collapsible tube in-which the side rianel III is joined to the edge of the trout panel I by suitable means, such as a strip of gummed tape l4.

For the purpose of providing cushioning and spaclngmeans for the inner packing element, the

front and rear panels 'I and 8 are preferably each I provided with an extension on the upper and lower edges thereohrespec tively, these extensions so at IT and I8 for the panel 8.

As shown in Fig. 4, the flaps l5, l6, l1 and I8 are arranged to be bent over relative to the attached panels and they are also arranged to be folded back upon themselves; For this purpose the blank is scored at I9 and 28, between the main panel andthe respective flaps I5 and IT. The flaps l5 and l] are also scored at 2| and 22 to provide two panels indicated at 23 and 24 on the flap l5, and at 25 and 26 on the flap II.

In like manner, the flaps I6 and |8 are provided with score lines 21, 28, 29 and 30, respectively, to separate such flaps into panels 3| and 32 on flap l6, and panel 33 and 34 on flap I8.

The panels 23, 25 and 3| and 33 are preferably all'of substantially the same lengthandwidth- As will clearly appear by reference to Figs. 2 and inner tubularelement so that-when these panels are'folded inwardly they will form at least a partial closure for the ends of the tubeso as to retain the packed article against endwise movement with respect to the tubular element.

The panels 24, 26, 32 and 34 are for convenience made the same length as the panels to which they are attached, although this is not necessary in every case. These panelsghowever, are made of such a width that, when bent backwardly upon the panels to which they are attached, the outer extremities of the panels 24, 26, 32 and 34 will engageagainst the inner faces of the adjacent -walls of the enclosing container, whereby the inner packing element will be maintained against movement in either direction at right angles to the edges of the panels 23, 25, 32 and 34.

The-length and width of the flaps l5 l6, l1, and I8 depends upon the relative dimensions of the outer container and of the tube formed by the walls I, 8, 9 and ID. If the tube proper terminates considerably short of the walls of the enclosing container, then it' is desirable to provide for somewhat wider angles betweenthe folded panels 23, 24; 25, 26; etc.,'-and one or both of the panels will be made wider. On the other hand, if the dimensions of the enclosing, container are not substantially greater than the corresponding dimensions of the panels I and 8, allowing for the double thickness of material provided by the overlapping panels of the flaps, it is obvious that the panels 23, 25, 3| and 33 may be of any width, preferably not greater than one-half of the width of the end panels 9 and I8, so that these panels will act to at least' partially close the tube, and the panels 24, 26, 32 and 34 will be of a width somewhat greater than the first mentioned panels depending upon how far it is desired to keep the front and rear faces of the inner packing element away from the corresponding inner faces of the enclosing container.

In order to provide for conveniently receiving the clock between the JEHEIS 1 and 8, the end walls 9 and I8 are preferably made of a width somewhat greater than the corresponding dimension of the-clock, thus keeping the normal distance between the main panels I and 8 greater being indicated at l5 and it for the panel 1, and

than the corresponding ,thickness' of the clock in a direction at right angles to these main panels.

The flaps 5, l1 and l6, l8 are so constructed that when the inner tubular element has been preliminarily expanded to receive the clock, the extremities of adjacent pairs of these will be separated a greater distance than the corresponding dimension of the container into which the inner packingelement is to be inserted. Thus,

when the inner packing element is inserted in the outer container, there will be a tendency for the side walls 9 and Hi to become deformed to reduce their eiTective dimensions at right angles to the panels I and 8. In order to best provide for the deformation of the walls 9 and I0, there are'provided lines of fold, indicated at 35, 36, preferably formed by scoring the panels centrally thereof substantially parallel to the edges of the panels 1 and 8, thus dividing these panels into relatively movable sections. By this construction, when the clock has been inserted within the inner packing element it will lie somewhat loosely between the panels 1 and 8, but after the inner element is inserted in the outer container the panels 1 and 8 are brought closer together into firm contact with the clock and the walls 9 and I0 will assume an outward convex condition due to bending alongthe crease lines 35, 36.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower ends of the end panels 9 and I0 may be cut away so that-v such panels are shorter than the corresponding panels I and8. Due to this arrangement the inner;tube will accommodate any overhanging or outwardly extending base portion, trim or other projection at the bottom or top portion of the clock. As will be readily understood, the upper jecting elements at the rear face of the clock or other instrument. It is to be noted that when the end walls 9 and Ill are constructed for deflecting movement, as above described, a clock carrying setting or adjusting buttons and any other projecting parts located at the rear of the clock may be readily moved into position in which the projecting parts will be in registration with openings such as 38 and 39 formed in the panel 8 and these projecting parts will be received into the openings upon movement of the main panels -1 and 8 into contact with the front and rear sides of the clock when the inner packing element is placed within the shipping container. Likewise, when the inner packing element, containing a clock, has been removed from the outenshlpping container, the panels 1 and 8 will be free to return to their original separated condition, and the endwalls 9 and ID will tend to return to plane form. This causes withdrawal of the projecting parts from the openings such as 38 and 39 formed in panel 8 and the clock may thereupon be removed from the inner packing element without any substam tiallikelihood that the projecting parts will catch on the edges of the openingsin the withdrawing operation.

In the present instance the front panel 1 01 and then to bring the panels 24 and 26 down.

the inner packing element is formed with a plurality of'radial slits 40', 40' which function to allow the central portion of the panel] to bulge somewhat outwardly for the purpose of( accommodating a convex crystal or glass at the front of the packed instrument.

In practice, the enclosing container and the inner packing element will be sent to the user in a collapsed or knock-down condition. When the user desires to employ the construction of the present invention for packing a clock, it is only necessary to expand the tube of the inner packing element and insert the clock endwise into the tube until it is enclosed between the inner faces of the'front. and rear panels 1 and 8. The flaps l5 and I! will next be so manipulated as to bring the panels 23 and 25 over the clock substantially over panels 23 and25 respectively, so that panels 24 and 26 will project outwardly- "beyond the outer faces of the front and rear walls 1 and 8, respectively. I

. A similar operation is then performed on the lower flaps i6 and i8 to bring these flaps into the same relative condition as panels of flaps l5 and ii. The inner packing element, with the clock therein, is now ready to be inserted into the outer container which will, in the meantime, have been set up byexpanding same and taping or gluing one set of closure flaps when the container is in the form of a slotted carton. The preferred manner of inserting the inner packing element into the outer is to grasp the front and rear walls between the thumb and fingers and to insert the inner element with the. flaps in folded condition as above described so that one of the side walls Figs. 5 and,6 show the manner of varying the construction of the blank of the inner packing element by having the portions at the ends of the blank so formed as-to each provide complementary portions of one of the main panels.

' According to this form of the invention the blank 40 is suitably cut and scored to provide a central panel 4i, which may for convenience be termed the front panel, two side panels 42 and 43, and two additional complementary portions 44 and 45, which, when secured edge to edge, will constitute a second main panel which, for convenience, may be termed the rear panel.

Panel 4| is provided withflaps 46 and 41, respectively, at the top and bottom edges. Inlike manner, panels 44 and "are provided at their top'and bottom edges, respectively, with extension flaps 48, 49 and 50, Iii. 7

Score lines are impressed in the blank as indicated at*52 and 53 for flap 4B, and at 54 and 55 for flap 41; at 58 and 51 for flap 48; at 58 and spacing panels '84, 55; 68, 61; 68, 69; 10, II;

As shown in Fig. 5.-the blank illustrated in Fi 6 may be secured into tubulariorm by bringing the ends of the blank together along the edges of panels 44 and 45 and their respective attached flaps 48, '50 and 49, 5|, then securing a strip of of inner packing element may then be folded into a flat condition along two opposite pairs of score lines as will be readily understood.

The inner packing element, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, will be used in substantially the same manner as the packing element illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. That is, it is adapted to be received into an outer container after the cushioning and spacing pads have been folded similar to the ar clock, the space between the inner packing ele-' ment and the outer container is adapted to accommodate a substantial length of conducting wire with a terminal plug attached.

While the present invention has been described as being particularly applicable to the packaging of clocks, it is desired that this term be considered as used in a generic sense as equally applicable to other articles or instruments which require protection during transportation and are of such a shape as to be readily insertable into the inner packaging element-such as described herein.

It is apparentfrom the foregoing description that there is provided" an efilcient and durable form of packaging construction for clocks and similar articles which require maximum protection during transportation. The -inner packing element may be shipped to user in a very compact form and rapidly .set up and packed by the user to provideadequate protection for the clock without requiringthe use of anything but glue or tape to prepare the clock for shipment. After itmay be shipped to'the retailer and unpacked by him for inspection and display. After sales are made the clocks may be readily replaced within the inner packing elements and the latter inserted into the outer container. The clock may be quickly prepared for further shipment or delivery to the home of the purchaser with a maximum degree of safety during this final transportation. The package need not be in any way destroyed by opening it'to remove the contained article for inspection. and it is the inner packing ,and outer container several times as in the case of returning the clock to the m nufacturer for adjustment or repair.

. 3 tape I8 along the joint thus formed.- This form the clock has been packed, as indicated herein,

possible to reuse While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing de-- scription to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim: 9

1. A container for clocks comprising, in combination, an enclosing container having four side walls with top and bottom closures, an inner packing element comprising a strip of paperboard folded into tubular form and adapted to engage opposite sides of a clock, an extension flap on at least one end of each of two oppositely disposed walls of said packing element, each of said extension flaps having a portion adapted to be folded inwardly over the top of the packing element to provide a closure element therefor and having an additional portion adapted to be bent outwardly of the packing element with its extremity extending beyond the adjacent side wall of the packing element, whereby contact of-the extremity of such flap with the inner face of the wall of the enclosing container will maintain the side wall of the packing element away from the adjacent wall of the enclosing container.

2. A container for clocks comprising, in combination, an enclosing container having four side walls with top and bottom closures, an inner packing element comprising a four-sided tube of paperboard adapted to encase the clock, an extension flap on at least one end of each of two oppositely disposed walls of said tube, each of said extension flaps having a portion adapted to be folded inwardly over the top of the tube to provide a closure element therefor and having an additional portion adapted to be'folded over the first mentioned portion to extend beyond the adjacent side wall of the tube, whereby contact of the extremity of such flap with the adjacent inner face of the wall of the enclosing container will maintain the side walls of the tube away from the adjacent walls of the enclosing container, at least one of the folded portionsof said extension flaps being extended at each end thereof laterally beyond the walls of the tube which are disposed at an angle to the walls upon which the flaps are located, whereby such extended ends engage the walls of the enclosing container to space the other two side walls of the tubeaway from the adjacent side walls of the enclosing container. v

3. A container for clocks comprising, in combination, an enclosing container having top and bottom walls and four side walls, an inner packing element 1 comprising a four-sided tube of paperboard adapted to encase a clock, an'extension flap on at least one end of each of two oppositely disposed walls of said tube, each of said extension-flaps having a portion adapted to be folded inwardly over the top of the tube to provide aclosure element therefor andihaving an additional portion adapted to be bent in a reverse direction to the first portion, outwardly of the tube, so that said portions provide cushioning elements between an end of the clock and the adjacent wall of the enclosing container, the extremity of each of suchjlaps extending beyond the adjacent side wall of the tube, whereby contact of the extremity of such flaps with the respective adjacent inner faces of the walls of the enclosing container will maintain the side wall of the tube away from said walls, at least one of the folded portions of said extension flaps being extended at each end thereof laterally beyond the walls of the tube which are disposed at an angle to the walls upon which the flaps are thereof, said extension flaps being folded to provide a pluralityof cushioning elements at each end of the tube, said cushioning elements extending over a portion of the ends of the tube to engage the top and bottom of the clock casing, said cushioning elements being adapted to contact the inner surfaces of the enclosing container to maintain the inner packing element spaced from the side walls of the enclwing container, the side walls of the tube, other than those upon which the aforesaid flaps are 10- cated, being each cut away at one end thereof to leave a space between the end of said side wall and the cushioning element to allow the base portions of the clock'to extend outwardly between the cushioning element and the lower ends of the side walls.

5. An inner packing element, adapted to be used with an enclosing container having a top and bottom wall and four side walls, said packing element comprising a tube of resilient paperboard, two opposed walls of said tube having flap extensions thereon adapted to be folded to provide reversely bent portions, the outer portions of each pair of flaps at the ends of the tube being adapted to bear flatwis'e against two opposed walls of an enclosing container and the outer extremities of such portions being extended beyond the sides of the tube so as to engage respectively against the inner faces of two other walls of the enclosing container, said flap extensions being extended laterally beyond the edges of the tube whereby the two remaining walls of v the enclosing container may be engaged thereby.

6. A blank for an inner packing element, adapted to be used with an enclosing container having a top and bottom wall andfourside walls,

said blank comprising a strip of paperboard creased to provide a front panel, a side panel hinged thereto, a rear panel hinged to the opposite edge of the side panel, an additional side panel hinged to the opposite edge of the rear panel, each of the front and rear panels-having flap extensions at each end thereof, each of said flap extensions projecting laterally beyond its attached panel to provide means for spacing the side panels from the walls of an enclosing container when the blank has been formed into a tube, and when inserted within an enclosing container. I

"I; A blank for .an inner packing element, adapted to be used with an enclosing container having a top and bottom wall and four side walls, said blank comprising a strip of paperboard suitably scored to provide a centrally disposed front panel, side panels hinged respectively to the opposite sides of the front panel, complementary rear panel portion hinged respectively to the outer edges of the side panels; flaps arranged to constitute cushioning and spacing elements extending respectively from the top and bottom edges of the front panel, said flaps extending transverselybeyond the edges of the front panel,

flaps arranged to constitute cushioning and spacing elements extending respectively from top" and bottom edges of each of the complementary rear panels, eachof said flaps extending tions of such flaps project beyond the line ofjuncture between the respective side walls and the attached complementary panel portions.

- MAURICE J. PARNIN. 

